Peaks of Europe: The Alps to The Dolomites featuring France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Italy

Peaks of Europe: The Alps to The Dolomites featuring France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Italy

Embark on an invigorating journey through Europe’s towering Alps and idyllic towns. Ascend 4 unique mountains via cable car and cogwheel train. Join a mountain guide for a hiking experience. Visit Jungfraujoch and stand at the “Top of Europe.” Visit the cheese aging cellars of L’Etivaz and the Italian vineyards of Prosecco – enjoying a tasting at both. Spend time in the idyllic storybook towns of Lucerne, Innsbruck, and Cortina crowned by towering Dolomite Mountains. Across France, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy, discover breathtaking beauty and inviting local charm.

Tour France Collette Explorations France

Embark on an invigorating journey through Europe’s towering Alps and idyllic towns. Ascend 4 unique mountains via cable car and cogwheel train. Join a mountain guide for a hiking experience. Visit Jungfraujoch and stand at the “Top of Europe.” Visit the cheese aging cellars of L’Etivaz and the Italian vineyards of Prosecco – enjoying a tasting at both. Spend time in the idyllic storybook towns of Lucerne, Innsbruck, and Cortina crowned by towering Dolomite Mountains. Across France, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy, discover breathtaking beauty and inviting local charm.

Highlights

  • In Chamonix, you have the choice between 2 activities. Explore the legendary Mont Blanc – Europe's tallest peak and birthplace of mountaineering – your way. Your first choice is to ascend the Aiguille du Midi by cable car to an elevation of over 12,600 feet (3,842 meters).* This is the closest you can get to the summit of Europe’s tallest peak. Your second choice is to relax aboard the Tramway du Mont Blanc rack-railway, taking in its vintage charm and the impressive views from the Eagle’s Nest, located 7,782 feet above sea level (2,372 meters). Aiguille du Midi Cable Car Activity Level: 4 The Aiguille du Midi is the name of the cable car system, buildings and teraces that brings people to the base of Mont Blanc for 360° views of the French, Swiss and Italian Alps. After a 20-minute cable car ride, passengers will be at an elevation of 12,605 feet or 3842 meters! It may be summer at the base of the mountain but it is COLD up top. Temperatures reach a high of about 40°F in the summer, and only dip from there, so guests should be prepared with warm clothing - a lightweight thermal jacket, hat and gloves. There are buildings at the summit, so it is possible to escape the cold by going inside. Please note, we have other mountain experiences on this tour, so the jackets will come in handy throughout the trip. Guests choosing this option will return to Chamonix by cable car with the Tour Manager. In cases when Aiguille du Midi is not operating on the date of the visit, an alternative will be provided. Tramway du Mont Blanc Activity Level: 2 Travelers picking this choice have the possibility of still viewing the Mont Blanc without having to ascend the 12,600 feet (3,900 meters) to the Aiguille du Midi peak which is just below the summit. The tramway ride takes place in a vintage rack-railway and leads to the Nid d'Aigle viewpoint offering views over the Mont Blanc glacier. The Eagle’s Nest (Nid d'Aigle) is located 7,782 feet above sea level (2,372 meters). Tramway du Mont Blanc operates seasonally, so due to closure dates, this choice is not available during the periods of April 1 to June 13 and September 29 through December.
  • This world-famous ski resort in the canton of Bern is one of many “jet set” destinations in the Swiss Alps. There are about 140 miles/225 km of ski slopes here making it one of the largest resorts in Switzerland. The town is a shopping paradise, with all of the major labels such as Louis Vuitton, Hermes and Prada, and has been home to people like Julie Andrews, Roger Moore, Roman Polanski, Elizabeth Taylor and Prince Rainier and Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco. Gstaad was one of the locations for the movie “Return of the Pink Panther."
  • This city of 80,000 people is in north-central Switzerland in the canton of Lucerne and sits on the shores of Lake Lucerne. The town began with a Benedictine monastery in the 8th century and gained importance from its location on trade routes. The most famous sights in Lucerne are the wooden Kapellbrucke (Chapel Bridge) across the Reuss River, the Hofkirche (Church of St. Leodegar) and the Swiss Museum of Transport. The city celebrates Carnival every year beginning the Thursday before Ash Wednesday. Mt Pilatus, with the world’s steepest cog railway, is visible from Lucerne.
  • This is the capital of the state of Tyrol in the Alps of western Austria. Innsbruck is famous as a winter sports center and was the site of the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics. It is beautifully situated in the valley of the Inn River, and its most famous sights are the Golden Roof (a structure made from 2,800 gilded copper tiles that was added in 1500 to a building to celebrate the marriage of Emperor Maximilian I), the beautifully preserved city center with buildings covered in traditional Christmas decorations in the season, and the surrounding mountains.

Hotels

  • La Folie Douce Hotel — Chamonix
  • Golf Hotel Le Hauts de Gstaad — Gstaad
  • Sunstar Alpine Hotel — Grindelwald
  • Seelos Hotel NIKO — Seefeld
  • Hotel Ander — Brunico
  • Hotel Villa Condulmer, Mogliano Veneto — Venice

Details

Tour Operator
Collette
Start City
Chamonix
End City
Mogliano Veneto
Duration (Days)
13
Activity Level
Level 3

What's Included

Inquire About This Trip